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Kelly Gilson, of the United Way, with Jay Heaman of Woodstock Hydro and Jerry O'Connell, group leader of TMMC at the launch of new Charge Up for United Way program on Saturday. HEATHER RIVERS/WOODSTOCK SENTINEL-REVIEW

A new partnership between United Way Oxford and Woodstock Hydro is designed to keep local families warm through the long Woodstock winters.

Charge Up for United Way was launched on Saturday afternoon at Woodstock Hydro, where electric chargers had been offering free electrical charge ups since last September.

The two chargers, installed on the side of the Woodstock Hydro building on Graham Street at a cost of about $4,000, were designed to provide charging to EV owners travelling down the 400-series highway corridor, and at the same time introduce them to the downtown core.

Now users are being invited to make a donation online or in the depository box at Woodstock Hydro.

The donations will be funneled into a program that helps people struggling to pay their energy bills through the energy assistance program.

"There are families and individuals who truly cannot afford their bills," said Kelly Gilson, executive director of United Way. "I want to thank Jay and Woodstock Hydro for thinking of us, it really is a perfect fit."

The utility said they will match donations up to $2,000 and will challenge other businesses to do the same.

"The Charge Up for United Way campaign is one of the ways Woodstock Hydro can promote electric mobility, while encouraging electric vehicle owners to use our free charging stations for the benefit of others," said Jay Heaman, manager of operations at Woodstock Hydro.

Heaman said the electricity is being paid for through renewable energy contracts, not by users.

Since last October a total of 1200-kilowatt hours has been consumed by charging vehicles at the Woodstock public stations by 400 individuals.